On Thursday, a line of thunderstorms swept across parts of Texas, causing delays and cancellations for some flights. The National Weather Service warned that this weather system could result in high winds, hail, and even possible tornadoes.
At Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, nearly 90 flights were delayed and more than two dozen were cancelled early Thursday. Similar delays and storm-related cancellations were also reported at Dallas Love Field and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, as noted by FlightAware, an aviation tracking company.
The most significant weather threats were predicted for the area east of Dallas, extending between Houston and parts of southern Arkansas, as well as western and northern Louisiana, according to Brian Hurley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
“There does look like the possibility of one or a few tornadoes with this risk, but the main risk will be with high winds and hail,” Hurley explained, adding that wind gusts could reach between 60 and 80 mph (96 to 128 kph), with hail measuring one inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter or more.
Hurley also indicated that the storms are expected to move into southern Arkansas and western and northern Louisiana after dark, creating a potentially hazardous situation for holiday travelers.
“People can’t see a whole lot and may not be as weather aware,” he cautioned.
